Explosive projectile.



W. L. PETERSON.

EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE.

APPLICATION FILED IIIIII.4, Isla.

1,279,422. j Pan-Iedsept. 17,1918.

I) n i '11 r11 1114 fill.

D .5 ver: for' WALTER Il. PETERSON, 0F LYONS, NEBRASKA.

EXPLOSIVE PROJ ECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 17, 1918- Appiication med March 4, 191s. serial No. 220,225.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER L. PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lyons, in the county of Burt and State of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvements in Explosive'Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to explosive projectiles; and it has for its object to provide an explosive projectile in the form of a wheel, designed more especially to be dropped on enemy quarters or to be propelled toward the enemy, and embodying such construction that it will be reduced to small portions of metal when it explodes and such portions will be forcibly scattered throughout a considerable area with a view to inicting great injury on the men and property of the enemy.

The invention also contemplates providing the projectile with incendiary means, designed when the projectile explodes to be ignited and to scatter re in the vicinity of the explosion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of the explosive projectile constituting one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diametrical section of the same, taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a detail section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l and showing the manner of relatively arranging and connecting the sec tor-shaped side sections of the casing body.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views of the drawings.

My novel wheel-form explosive projectile comprises a central transverse tubular member 1, a rim 2 of circular form, and sector shaped side sections 3, flanged along their edges, as indicated by l and bolted or riveted together and to the central tubular member and the rim, as indicated by 5. These elements are preferably of cast iron in order to assure them being reduced to small fragments upon explosion of the projectile, and in combination they form the casing body of 5 the projectile.

Scattered throughout the area of each sector-shaped side section 3 are diagonal transversely-disposed tapered sockets 6. .These sockets 6 are diminished in diameter outwardly and are designed to receive and hold by frictional contact the tapered end portions 7 ofy spikes 8 which are arranged diagonally in the casing body as illustrated. The diagonal disposition of the sockets (3 in the sections 3 is designed to facilitate the breaking of the sections into small fragments, and by virtue of the spikes being held by frictional contact in the said sockets the spikes incidental to the explosion of the projectile are adapted to be thrown from the section fragments and scattered forcibly throughout a wide area.

Arranged and suitably secured in the alternate compartments formed in the cas ing body between the flanges of the side sections 3 are boxes 9 designed to contain a high explosive which per se forms no part of my invention and may, therefore, be of any character compatible with the purpose of the projectile. The explosive in the boxes 9 may be fired by percussion fuses (not shown) or by any other means `without involving departure from the scope of my in vention. I prefer, however, to effect the ignition of the explosive `in the several boxes 9 simultaneouslv through the medium of an electric time fuse 10 disposed in the central tubular member l of the casing body and electrically connected with the interiors of the several boxes 9. The said time fuse 10 and the electrical connections complementary thereto may be of the ordinary or any other approved type, and I have therefore deemed it unnecessary to illustrate the same in detail.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I arrange to slide the boxes 9 into position in the casing body precedent to the fastening of the side sections 3 at one side of the casing body, and I also arrange to secure each box in position through the medium of a safety lock device 11.

When deemed expedient the hollow spaces in the casing body may be packed with cotton Waste or other suitable absorbent material saturated with gasolene or other suitable hydrocarbon, this with a view to enabling the projectile when it explodes to scatter fire as well as fragments of metal.

My novel projectile may be dropped from aeroplanes or may be propelled by any suitable means against the enemy, and when the explosive in its boxes 9 is ignitedA itvvvill be effectually reduced tol fragments which Will be powerfully impelled throughout a considerable area With the result that great damage will be inflicted upon the personnel and the, property ofthe enemy ;V also, when the casing body is charged With cotton Waste l2 or the like impregnated with gasolene i or other suitable hydrocarbon `the explosion of the projectile Will be attended by the effectual spreading of fire and the havoc created among the enemy Will beV corre spondingly increased.

Y Manifestly the Wheelor circular form of the `projectile is materially advantageous inasmuch as it tends to assure movement of the projectile after the first contact against the objective, and consequentlyincreases the destructive capacity Vof the projectile.

tion and assembling of the various-elements may b e made, Without involving departure from the scope of my yappended claim.

Having, described lny invention, What l l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The herein described Wheel-form eXplosive projectile comprising a body having sector-shaped side sections fastened in the body and forming the side Walls thereof and having Closely arranged transversely and diagonallyv disposed tapered sockets diminished in diameter outwardly, transversely and diagonally disposed spikes arranged inthe body and having tapered end portions arranged and held by fricti'onal contact in the sockets of the sidesections; the spikes fastened at one side ofthe body being arranged in lapped relation With the spikes fastened at the opposite side of the body, explosivecarried in the body, and means also carried in the body forrfiring the explosive.

Y En testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence. of two subscribing Witnesses. WALTER L. PETERSON.

Witnesses E. S.'WIGT0N, W. C. HEINTZELMAN.

Copies of this patent may beV obtained for five cents earch? 'byaddressingthey Gemmssoner of Eatents,

Washington, D. C. 

